Looking for your next challenge? Combine top stockmanship, horsemanship and leadership at iconic Smedley Station.

• Enjoy the lifestyle and community of Tikokino, Hawke’s Bay.
• Excellent opportunity to further develop your leadership & management skills.
• Join one of NZ’s leading cadet training farms with a strong industry reputation.

Your Future Workplace

Established through a bequest from Josiah Howard in 1919, Smedley Station was gifted to the Crown to operate as a commercial farming enterprise while providing practical farming training for young people. Today, Smedley is recognised as a leading training farm focused on developing the next generation of skilled farmers. 

The station is administered by the Public Trust, with guidance from the Howard Estate Advisory Board on farming operations and the cadet training programme. Located in Tikokino, Central Hawke’s Bay, Smedley spans 5,600ha (3,400ha effective), winters approximately 30,000 stock units, and is operated as a high-performing commercial farming business. The property consists of four blocks: Smedley, Parks Peak, Onepoto, and Ridgelands, with dedicated Block Managers overseeing three of these blocks.

Your Role

As Senior Shepherd on the Smedley Block, you will play a key role in supporting the Station Manager with the day-to-day management of a high-performing breeding and finishing farming operation. The position requires a high standard of stockmanship, strong horsemanship, attention to detail, and a proactive approach to farm management. While primarily based on the Smedley Block, there will be opportunities to contribute across the wider Smedley farming business as required.

Working both independently and as part of a larger team, you will assist with all aspects of stock and farm operations while helping to mentor and support cadets as they develop their practical farming skills. The role also requires a commitment to maintaining high health and safety standards and utilising FarmIQ for farm management, recording, and reporting purposes.

What You’ll Bring:

• High level of stock and animal health knowledge and skills.
• Understanding of pasture management, feed budgeting and stock rotation knowledge and skills.
• Capable team of working dogs (ideally 5).
• Sound general skills, such as shearing hand piece skills, tractor driving, fencing.
• Sound computer literacy skills with some knowledge of FarmIQ preferred, but not essential (however incumbent will be required to learn and use the program).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal relationship skills with the ability to relate to a wide range of people.
• Self-motivated and punctual with the ability to set priorities and meet deadlines.
• Flexible and adaptable and prepared to go the extra mile.
• Physically fit and active.
• Ability to mentor young cadets in a positive and proactive way, whilst also having the ability to work alone and in a large team environment.

To read more about the position and farm layout please visit – https://bit.ly/3PXCQxr

Why You’ll Love This Job

• Great support systems in place with employers who are willing to pass on knowledge and upskill their employees.
• Provides the opportunity to gain further responsibility.
• Farming a mixed land unit system.
• Opportunity to work within an inclusive farming environment, where there is the chance to further your skills and progress your knowledge. 
• The employers provide an excellent work culture and value their people.
• A modern farming operation with a close relationship with their agents and processors.
• Opportunity to work on a largescale finishing operation, that has established some excellent infrastructure.
• Modern technologies and systems within the business. 
• Accommodation is a very tidy three-bedroom home with two bathrooms and an open plan living area, with a lockable garage.
• Tikokino offers a strong rural community with a local school, kindergarten, café, and rugby club, while being conveniently located just 25 minutes from Waipukurau and 40 minutes from Hastings and Napier.

Hit APPLY, check https://bit.ly/3PXCQxr for more info, or call Rural Directions on 06 871 0450.

Applications close Sunday 5th July 2026

Only job seekers who have NZ working rights will be eligible for this role.